Rugby | Absa Currie Cup

Butch to lead Lions against Bulls

The MTN Golden Lions will be fielding only their returning two Springbok props for Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup match against the Blue Bulls at Coca-Cola Park, while two of the other three players returning from the national squad will start off the bench.

The inclusion of CJ van der Linde provides Lions captain and loosehead JC Janse van Rensburg with a much-needed break after an outstanding campaign thus far in the competition. This is one of the eight changes, two of which are positional switches, to the starting side that lost to Griquas last weekend.

Butch James, who retains his flyhalf berth while new Springbok Elton Jantjies starts off the bench, will captain the side with Derick Minnie as his vice-captain. Lionel Mapoe, who was part of the Bok squad but didn’t play, is a replacement player while Jaco Taute, fresh from his first two tests, is rested altogether.

In the second of six changes to last weekend’s pack, Bok tighthead Pat Cilliers takes over from Jacobie Adriaanse who also gets a break but is involved in the match-22 as a replacement.

The other six changes to the team are: Ruan Botha replaces Franco van der Merwe at No 5 lock; Jaco Kriel takes over from Cobus Grobbelaar as openside flank while Derick Minnie moves up from the bench in place of Kriel at blindside flank; Willie Britz gives Warren Whiteley a deserved break at No 8; and on the left wing Anthony Volmink replaces Ruan Combrinck who moves to fullback in place of Andries Coetzee.

On the bench there are six changes. Prop Adriaanse replaces Caylib Oosthuizen; Paul Willemse comes in place of Britz who starts; Whiteley replaces Minnie who moves to the starting side; Whestley Moolman replaces Guy Cronje as replacement scrumhalf; Jantjies will get his run off the bench and centre Mapoe comes in for James Kamana as utility back.